Today I thought outloud about how nice it would be to have a book with all of La Fontaine's fables. As I was in a bookshop to buy a friend's birthdayToday I thought outloud about how nice it would be to have a book with all of La Fontaine's fables. As I was in a bookshop to buy a friend's birthday present, I remembered to have a look and found this nice edition at a cheap price (2.80 euros! You can't beat that!) so I decided to buy my own copy.

I had to smile when I opened the book and discovered that the first fable was "La Cigale et la Fourmi", which I learnt in primary school when I was seven years old and still remember to the word today, seventeen years later. La Fontaine is one of these authors who have an impact on you, whom you enjoy learning about in school because it is funny and slightly politically uncorrect. Just like Molière, for instance. The fables are about animals, who stand for rich noblemen and members of the aristocracy. La Fontaine denounced their wrongs in a very clever way, so very clever that few of them were aware that they were made fun of.

His fables have also become part of the every-day language, which proves just how much he brought to the French literature and language. Who has never said "Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point"?

I am sure that I will enjoy sitting with my book now and then to read a few fables again....more

I really enjoyed this book. From a practical point of view, I learnt many things: if I knew a lot about Hitler or Stalin thanks to my History classesI really enjoyed this book. From a practical point of view, I learnt many things: if I knew a lot about Hitler or Stalin thanks to my History classes as a pupil, I didn't know much about the Ceaucescus for instance, as I only vaguely remember their names being pronounced by family members when I was a child. So it filled in the gaps in my general knowledge, which is what I expected from that kind of books.

The facts were quite fascinating: Hitler received more fanmail than The Beatles and Mick Jagger put together. Can you imagine that? Throughout my reading, I couldn't help but wonder what these women could see in these dictators. I suppose for many of them, it was a possibility to fulfill ambitions which they were not allowed to have as women. They were blinded by love, envy. Or god knows what. Even though they controlled thousands, if not millions, those dictators were frustrated self-centred egocentrics who wanted to be adored and reassured, and these women dedicated their lives to satisfying them (so much as they sometimes died for them). Why? I just don't know. I could technically understand what these wives saw in their dictators, but I could not quite understand as a woman, as a humanist. If it makes any sense? If you like powerful man, fall for a rock star? Not a mass murderer?

My only problem with the book is that ometimes Diane Ducret took some facts for granted - as in, you should know them - so she didn't take too much time to explain what was going on or how we'd got there in the first place. Therefore I was a bit lost once or twice and had to ask Mr Google what it was I had missed.

Otherwise, it's an excellent read and much advised in our troubled times when far-right parties are one again elected in various countries and when dictators still believe they can get away with their regimes....more

This is the only Amélie Nothomb book I've ever read, so I can't really say whether it's better than her other books or not. I bought this book out ofThis is the only Amélie Nothomb book I've ever read, so I can't really say whether it's better than her other books or not. I bought this book out of curiosity, because I'd seen Amélie Nothomb at a book signing in my hometown of Lille and wanted to finally find out what the big deal was about her.

'Acide Sulfurique' is disturbing to say the least, with a real-TV show based on concentration camps and candidates having to survive. I read it a long time ago, but I remember finishing it within an hour or so and even though I was not that impressed with Nothomb's writing, I found the topic interesting as far as our society is concerned. What we see on television is getting more and more obscene, and the human race never seems to learn its lesson. So could something so horrible ever happen? I think it is a thought-provoking book and it makes you question yourself and our world's ideology. And a book that makes you think can never be so bad....more

I remember reading this book years ago. It was a pretty quick read, and it's only later on that I realised that it had become a very famous film as weI remember reading this book years ago. It was a pretty quick read, and it's only later on that I realised that it had become a very famous film as well and was considered one of the greatest love stories ever. At the time, I'd only read it out of boredom and because it happened to be in a big box full of books given by a relative.

I'm not into romance as such, but I remember feeling sad that the girl died when they seemed happy. Still, the book was too short to really make you feel for the characters and so I was not impressed with it....more

I had to read it for my MA dissertation and I thought it to be very boring. I suppose it's some great revolutionary book among the Literature researchI had to read it for my MA dissertation and I thought it to be very boring. I suppose it's some great revolutionary book among the Literature researchers, but I don't really see what it brought to me as a student who loves reading for the sake of it....more

I. Hated. It. I must have missed the great thing about it, because there was / is such a buzz about this book, maybe it's just me. Anyway, this book iI. Hated. It. I must have missed the great thing about it, because there was / is such a buzz about this book, maybe it's just me. Anyway, this book is empty, like its characters. I could not get into it because feeling sorry for poor little rich kids is not something that I can achieve. I am full of empathy... but for people who deserve it. I really disliked how the characters do not evolve. They are just as pathetic at the end of the book. And perhaps that was the point. I just didn't "get" it....more